"rheumatism" in the noun sense
1. rheumatism
any painful disorder of the joints or muscles or connective tissues
2. rheumatoid arthritis, atrophic arthritis, rheumatism
a chronic autoimmune disease with inflammation of the joints and marked deformities something (possibly a virus) triggers an attack on the synovium by the immune system, which releases cytokines that stimulate an inflammatory reaction that can lead to the destruction of all components of the joint
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